ROCKFORD — A woman was rescued today after jumping from the State Street bridge into the Rock River just before 11 a.m.

Theresa Parham, who had been driving across the bridge, said she saw the woman taking her shoes and socks off. Police would not identify the woman. Parham said it looked like the woman was praying before she jumped. Parham called 911.

Shawn Williams, who works at Runner’s Image downtown, was riding his bike to work when he saw a Fed Ex driver who services the shoe store talking to the woman while she was apparently treading water in the river.

“Normally I’m scared of the water,” Williams said, but he took off his shoes and jumped in to help retrieve the woman from the water behind the PNC Bank.

Police responded to the scene and used a rope and ladder to help get the woman and Williams out of the river. The woman was taken to a local hospital in a rescue squad. Lt. Patrick Hoey of the Rockford Police Department said about half a dozen people each year jump off Rockford bridges.

Said Zatar, an owner of Olivo Restaurant, 211 Seventh St., witnessed the rescue and congratulated Williams for his good deed. He gave him his business card and told him to bring his family to the eatery for a free meal.